Understanding Fibre Rollout

Hello all,

I have some questions about the fibre roll out across the UK.

Workers have been installing fibre cables along my road for a few days now. There were no announcements or leaflets regarding this. I have looked online too, and there are no announcements about this work anywhere on websites or local papers.

I noticed that they are basically pushing the cables down the road underground, then at telephone poles they are bringing those cables up along the pole and to the top.

It looks like the fibre cables will be following the same route to each property (ie suspended in the air) as the current copper cables go. Is this correct?

Also, when they do install the cables from the telephone pole to the house, will they bring the cable in to a particular location of our choosing (so that we can decide where the new fibre-internet modem will go), or do they just bring it into the entrance hallway and then we use some kind of fibre extension cable to connect to a modem?

Thanks for any help and information.

P.S. Shoutout to any OG Pipexers still around! haha.

If this is an Openreach FTTP roll out … then more than likely to follow the existing copper routing.

An external splice point will be fitted on the end of the fibre drop cable. An agreed (within reason) location for the ONT will be used… it ought to have two spare power points available… being on an outside wall within the property is preferable too.

From the ONT an ‘inside out’ fibre lead in will be run back to the external splice point, spliced through, and Bob’s yer Uncle, all being well, you’ll have service.


If your preferred router location is tricky to run cable to, then your best bet is to run your own cat5 or above cable between the router location and where the likely ONT will go.


p.s. I recall your username from way back when, I was around, but called something else in those days. Are you still on a 512kbps connection as per your sig then 😃

Thanks for the informative reply.

For the Cat5 option, could this be set up via ethernet over power, instead of running a long cable?

I mean:

ONT--> Cat5 powerline ethernet plug --> household copper circuits --> Cat5 powerline ethernet plug --> Fibre Router.

P.S. haha no I'm on "80 meg" but actually only getting 35. Kept the old signature for old times' sake.

Powerline ethernet can kill high speeds on the LAN. Better to get a decent mesh system unless you live in a castle with metre-thick stone walls.

(Bob)

Edited by pluralist (Sun 11-Jul-21 23:09:34)

In reply to a post by LucBorg:

For the Cat5 option, could this be set up via ethernet over power, instead of running a long cable?

I mean:

ONT--> Cat5 powerline ethernet plug --> household copper circuits --> Cat5 powerline ethernet plug --> Fibre Router.

It works but isn't ideal.

Agree wholeheartedly agree with both John and Bob’s replies …. don’t go that route if at all possible

I agree as well..

The existing AV1200 powerlines I have on the same ring main were OK-ish when I was on the a 150/30 package but now I've moved to a 500/75 package they top out around 180 Mbps.

In reply to a post by LucBorg:

I mean:

ONT--> Cat5 powerline ethernet plug --> household copper circuits --> Cat5 powerline ethernet plug --> Fibre Router.

Not sure that setup would work - at least not with the power line adapters I have seen. You would get a physical link connection OK, but I’m not sure that PPPoE would work between the WAN port of the router and the ONT with the power line link.

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

In reply to a post by LucBorg:

I mean:

ONT--> Cat5 powerline ethernet plug --> household copper circuits --> Cat5 powerline ethernet plug --> Fibre Router.

Not sure that setup would work - at least not with the power line adapters I have seen. You would get a physical link connection OK, but I’m not sure that PPPoE would work between the WAN port of the router and the ONT with the power line link.

Not tried it on FTTP but it works perfectly between an FTTC modem and a router doing PPPoE.

It's just Ethernet between 2 points. Not sure why it wouldn't work on FTTP.
I'll test it later today.

I’d be interested to know if it works John. I’ve given my Devolo power line adapters away so can’t test it.